Terror at Black Tree Forest

Chompcrc here. The technical specs state that a Blackmagic Cinema Camera was used to film this movie. The footage looks like it was shot on an RCA video camera circa 1987. Any dynamic range that this camera offers was completely wasted by the filmmaker's lack of preparation. This is some of the worst looking footage I have ever seen, and it completely takes you out of the movie. If you're gonna go through the trouble of making a movie, watch a video or two ahead of time.

So I went into this with very low expectations which was lucky because the movie doesn't amount to much. As another reviewer mentioned it's over long for what little story there is and it's padded out with lots of unnecessary dialogue especially in the very over long scenes around the campfire. The premise is also very basic and has been done to death in a million better films.

However there a a few things that stand out. The lighting and sound are good especially for a budget movie shot entirely outside. The acting is a mixed bag. I thought Amanda Bourne as the lead was very good. She had a lot of dull repetitive dialogue but it's not her fault the script was poor. Also the stoned girl was pretty believable as I've actually known people who talk and behave a bit similarly.

In summary it's a film to perhaps watch late after some beers when not concentrating properly. But overwise give it a miss.

Agreeing to take a camping trip together, a group of friends decides to head off into the woods nearby for a weekend of fun together, but when they realize one of them is missing head off to find him where they encounter a vicious killer hunting them down and must find a way to get away alive.

There was quite a lot to like about this effort. One of the strongest features is the delightful setup that takes on the same situation as the original while still offering its own spin on everything. The central idea is that taking the group of friends on a hike into the woods for a weekend of fun and drinking that gets crashed by the escaped serial killer prowling the woods who begins taking them out offers a great workable setup for this kind of film. The fact that it spends a nice amount of time building a great camaraderie between the group, not quite being completely vicious to each other but relying more on everyday banter and storytelling, being affected by the elements, and generally having fun that feels realistic to how a group of friends would really act on this kind of trip together. On top of that, there are also the rather creepy and chilling slashing scenes that provide quite a bit of fun to this one. Featuring a highly effective setup in the forest that takes on a truly atmospheric take on the woodlands setting as the scenes with the group hiking through the woods offer a rather chilling vibe. That makes the stalking and attacking quite fun, with the double-ambush for the cold open, the attack on the group following the campfire story, and the chilling scenes of the group split up and lost in the woods looking for their missing friend while getting hints that someone is watching them from time-to-time making for a great bit of action here. In addition, the kills here are quite fun as there are multiple stabbings, a victim choked out with decorative wire, a gruesome slit throat, and some eye-gouging that comes off quite bloody and enjoyable in the indie style they're featured in. Combined with the fantastic twist that gives everything a shocking setup and some surprising motivations, there's a lot to like here. There isn't much to dislike about the film but it does have some minor drawbacks. The main issue is the film's somewhat overlong set up that keeps the fun and stalking to be relegated to the back half of the running time. While generating a lot to like with the groups' friendship and bond in this section, there's not much in the way of action for a long period of time after the cold open to where the group discovers his presence and begins to get knocked off. That the backstory to the killer's connection to the area comes off around the halfway point in the film is a bit of a sign that the pacing is a bit slack and is a bit of a letdown, much like the sightly irritating ability in the last half to think everything is a joke or prank. This factor is original at first but carries on a bit too long to be realistic and makes for a questionable inclusion in the situation, but all these do is only knock this down slightly compared to the rest of the positives.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Graphic Violence.

Sam Mason-Bell's "Terror at Black Tree Forest" focuses on a group of friends that hang out in the woods, smoke weed and tell stories, one in particular is a legend that goes on in the very same woods that they're in. This is an upgraded remake or reboot (whatever) of Dustin Ferguson's original movie. A definite upgrade! This retelling is very long and you will feel that all way through. It didn't need to be an hour and 13 minutes. Could've easily been 20 minutes or half an hour if most. I actually thought I was watching a two hour film. I am however impressed with the lighting that was done for this. It must've been hard to create lighting around the forest at nighttime.

I feel people watch these films and expect "marvel movie type budgets" and don't appreciate a good storyline and plot instead.

The story of college students going on their annual camping trip in a forest with a scary past. (Hence the film title) leads to a very scary night in the forest.

I cant give spoilers away but I will say if you can appreciate a good plot you'l enjoy this movie.